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From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents

Half term is upon us and the school year seems well on its way. As with every adventure there are al-ways a few bumps to start with but we very quickly get into our stride and the journey begins to flow. It has been really difficult to STOP and B at the start of the year but we are making a concerted effort to get our pupils into the rhythm of taking time out to enjoy the smaller things in life that happen around us.

It has already been great to see the wonderful progress our pupils are making in all the different spheres of school life; from academics to sport and culture. I must take this opportunity to thank our amazing staff who are always keen to go the extra distance for the betterment of our pupils. So much of what the staff do in all the areas of Epworth goes unnoticed and sometimes unappreciated.

It is a major team effort to keep such a beautiful campus running, and maintaining the standards we expect.

There is much excitement building towards our annual Mudman event at Albert Falls on Sunday, March 3rd . Please can we ask you to encourage all friends and family to enter our event. It is not often that one has the opportunity to exercise and have fun in a wildlife reserve. Take the time to B amongst family and friends in nature. Enjoy the delicious meals prepared by the Rotary Club and the excitement of the races in their unique format.

I would like to wish all our families a well-deserved break over this long weekend. We, the staff of Epworth, challenge every family to find some time this weekend to just STOP and B and truly enjoy the sounds, sights, smells and tastes around us.

Reynard White

Newsletter: February, Term 1 - 2019

1

Start of a new year

There is always so much excitement on the first day of a new

year. The children cannot wait to share their holiday news and stories

with their friends and teachers.

The intake of new pupils into the Pre-Primary went very well. There

have been lots of smiles and laughter as new friendships have been made and the children have settled well

into their daily routines.

The easy transition from Grade R to Grade 1 at Epworth has been

evident, with all the Grade 1s having a great start to their new year.

Having a Grade 7 mentor to care and look after them is always a big part of

their Grade 1 year.

Community Engagement: Supporting CHOC

The Prep School’s community engagement project for the first term has been to support CHOC

(Supporting Children with Cancer).

The boys and girls had a very special assembly with two guest speakers, Agie Govender from CHOC and Dan Wersig from the CHOC KZN Cow Herd and founder of ‘Journey for Jodes’.

Two of our pupils, Emma Williams and Abby Clayton, also swam the Midmar Mile in their CHOC cow costumes to raise funds for CHOC.

On the 15th February (International Childhood Cancer Day) all the Grade RRR to Grade 7 children had a CHOC civvies day. They raised an amazing R 9 918.00.

Epworth will also be donating 10% of this year’s aQuellé Epworth Mudman profits to CHOC.

2

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the Chairperson of the PA. I run my own business from home and I have a daughter in Grade R and another daughter in Grade 2. I am extremely excited and privileged to have this opportunity to represent you as the parents for a second year. Thank you to my PA team from 2018. As for 2019, this is going to be another fantastic year!

All elected class reps and I have met and I am confident and thrilled to have a great team.

The next major event is Mudman. It will take place on Sunday, 3 March at Albert Falls Dam. Please can I appeal to all parents, children, family members and friends to support this fantastic event, whether you enter, sponsor or come and support on the day. It is an event you don’t want to miss!

Thank you to all the parents who attended the AGM. As I mentioned at the AGM, the Parents’

Welcome to the new Prep School Staff

Association is responsible for assisting in uplifting the school by purchasing “nice-to-haves” for the school with the PA funds.

Please can you consider any projects that you think will add value to the school and let your class reps know your ideas. Last year the PA funds were used for artificial grass at the Pre-Primary and books to the value of R4234 were donated to our library. Two more six-seater picnic tables were purchased, as well as one hexagonal table. This means that every class at the Prep School has a table outside their classroom for outdoor teaching.

To my PA team for 2019: I look forward to working closely with you and building great friendships. I am confident that together we will continue to develop and deliver another quality PA committee. To the parents, thank you for your continued support and confidence in the PA. Together we will strive for excellence and achieve greatness.

Warm regards, Bernadette Cameron

From the Chair of the Prep School Parents’ Association

Secretary: Siggi Duckham Treasurer: Adrian Clayton Pre-Primary Chairs: Carla da Silva and Courtney Schmidt Co-opted: Adrian Clayton Grade Reps: RRR: Carien Broodryk and Hayley Coombes RR: Courtney Schmidt and Carla da Silva R: Matt Blomeyer and Kirsty Rossouw

PA Chair: Bernadette Cameron

and Vice Chair: Mark Ferreira

1: Kim Gowar and Nicci Crawford 2: Kassandra Behari and Bernadette Cameron 3: Monique Louw and Colleen Mitchell 4: Colleen Glaeser and Claudia Janse van Vuuren 5: Vibeke Olsen, Mark Ferreira and Michelle Poole 6: Kenwyn Geyser and Jennie Soden 7: Megan Stella, Siggi Duckham and Terry Clarke

3

We welcome the following new staff to our Epworth

Preparatory School family this year:

From left to right:

Mr Dana Drimml (Grade 6 Teacher)

Mrs Nthokozo Zondi (Pre-Primary Teacher Assistant)

Ms Zama Kanyile (Grade 2 Teacher)

Mrs Sam Maharaj (Grade RRR Teacher)

Mr Leon Jackson (Head of Sport)

In today’s modern world we certainly seem to be rushing from one thing to the next without ever fully appreciating the beauty and joy that surrounds us.

Hopefully, our theme, “Stop and Be” (.B) will help our children to develop a love and appreciation for their surroundings, gaining a better balance when it comes to technology versus nature. It allows us to create the time and headspace to slow down, be more aware of and appreciate the joys that abound in our everyday lives.

4

Prep School Theme for 2019

Some more highlights of Term 1 at Epworth Preparatory

Fun with Grade 4

Afrikaans orals

Lots of love in the

Pre-Primary on

Valentine’s Day

Grade 5 visited

Butterflies for Africa

Grade 5 visited the

Botanical Gardens

Grade 3 learn about Epworth’s

history at the School Museum

Great fun was had at the Dusi

Guppy Race at Camp’s Drift

Lovely service at

Whole School Chapel

Mrs Sandra Henning has been teaching the pupils an exercise, using their hands and breathing techniques, on how to “STOP and B”. The children and teachers, pictured above, all did this exercise together in an assembly.

Please support the Epworth aQuellé Mudman

A few of our sporting achievements

Congratulations to

Veer Premchund and Paige Stella

who took part in the Space TV KZN

Squash Junior Open.

Paige was placed 3rd girl U13

and Veer was placed 1st boy U13.

5

It is always wonderful to hear news from past boys and girls of our Preparatory School.

The Grade 7 Class of 2013 (Grade 12 in 2018) did exceptionally well in their high school careers and

produced a wonderful set of results in their final Grade 12 exams.

Six boys from this grade went on to Maritzburg College. They produced an amazing 17 distinctions between them in

their final examinations. William Clacey achieved six distinctions.

These boys also achieved in their extra-curricular areas: Cade White - Colours for Squash; Mpumelelo Maphumulo -

Colours for Tennis and Honours for Hockey; Raymond Kumalo - Colours for Choir; Darshan Dhayaram - Colours for

Academics and Techsquad; William Clacey - Colours for Academics; Joseph Clacey - Colours for Academics.

Our girls who went on to Epworth High School did exceptionally well. The overall Epworth IEB NSC results were

phenomenal with a 100% Bachelor Degree pass. Special mention must be made of Josie Makkink, who achieved

100% for History in her finals. Jody (Joanna) Kockott, Samira Rajaram and Shraya Moodley all achieved 7

distinctions.

Numerous girls from the Grade 7 Class of 2013 also achieved many successes and outstanding awards for their

extra-curricular areas during their high school careers .

Well done to all these pupils and very best wishes to them as they venture into the next chapter in their lives!

News of our past Epworth Preparatory pupils

Congratulations to Abby Clayton,

Amber Warr and Emma Williams for

their selection to the

Umgungundlovu District

Swimming Team for the upcoming

KZN swimming trials.

Epworth Prep School pupils

completely dominated the recent KZN

Canoe Sprint Championships at

Shongweni Dam. Our pupils were

awarded many medals from the U10

through to the U14 categories.